Rating: 
Summary: Still the best "How would I change history"
Review: It is rather old. It was written when it was politically correct to be a pinko and a racist - simultaneously. It was based on the best available knowledge of the time, trust DeCamp to do his homework, but we know a lot more now. Still it wears it's years lightly and it is still the most entertaining book of it's kind. It is IMHO as entertaining as Heinlein's "Double Star". The plot is that an American archaeologist drops down into Rome at the time Justinian decided to reconquer Rome from the Goths. So he has to survive in a world where social security has not been invented, survive in interesting plus he tries to change history by inventing things. PS, he does not get the girl.
Rating:
Summary: Quintessential Uchronia Novel
Review: Lest Darkness Fall is an engaging story that takes place in a period and location not usually the focus of alternate history: 6th century Italy. Knowing little about the real history of Italy during this period, I realize I missed some of de Camp's more nuanced references. And I am not a big fan of military history, which works its way into the last chapters of the book. But it was all great fun--and highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: L. Sprague DeCamp is overlooked
Review: Lest Darkness Fall was my introduction to L. Sprague DeCamp, and I have been a fan ever since. I even bought this book to read the homage story it contains. I have read and reread this book several times. You will find you will want to study the period of history this book covers. After you study, you will read the book again and apperciate DeCamp's depth of knowledge. When I find an author like L. Sprauge DeCamp, I feel comfortable reading any book ther author writes. DeCamp has an earthy style that is captivationg.
Rating: 
Summary: Great time travel & alternate history book.
Review: Lest Darkness Fall was one of the first great alternate history books. Since the time travel isn't given a plausible explanation it was initially considered to be fantasy. However it's mostly too real to be fantasy. Since it was written in the 30's it was a little dated, but not too badly. Also it takes place in the age of Theodoric & Justinian which I thought was after the "fall" of the Western Roman Empire. Still, it's funny & interesting to a history lover like me.
Rating:
Summary: Creative, Concise and Appealing
Review: Martin Padway, mild-mannered archaeologist, is visiting Rome when he is thrust backwards in time... all the way back to the sixth century A.D. The Roman Empire is fading fast... facing foes on all sides... with the thousand-year blight we now know as the Dark Ages fast approaching. Can a single man -- Padway --change history and prevent the fall of Rome? Nothing less than the 'Age of Enlightenment' hangs in the balance.The literary descendent of 'A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court', de Camp lets Padway grapple with raw issues. I found these areas the story's most interesting sections: how to make a living, having arrived with only modern currency in hand... how to avoid the authorities, given their proclivity to brand any new technology 'witchcraft'... how to assemble allies, fend off enemies and stay healthy in an environment not conducive to outsiders. Because it was written in 1939, there is a level of 'political incorrectness' that is entertainingly fresh. Italian women, Muslims, the French and others are insulted with broad brush-strokes. Nonetheless, it is historically informative, important from a literary standpoint and makes for interesting reading. Despite its age, it is a fluid, fast read. de Camp had a lot of interesting things to say... and said them well.
Rating:
Summary: Creative, Concise and Appealing
Review: Martin Padway, mild-mannered archaeologist, is visiting Rome when he is thrust backwards in time... all the way back to the sixth century A.D. The Roman Empire is fading fast... facing foes on all sides... with the thousand-year blight we now know as the Dark Ages fast approaching. Can a single man -- Padway --change history and prevent the fall of Rome? Nothing less than the 'Age of Enlightenment' hangs in the balance. The literary descendent of 'A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court', de Camp lets Padway grapple with raw issues. I found these areas the story's most interesting sections: how to make a living, having arrived with only modern currency in hand... how to avoid the authorities, given their proclivity to brand any new technology 'witchcraft'... how to assemble allies, fend off enemies and stay healthy in an environment not conducive to outsiders. Because it was written in 1939, there is a level of 'political incorrectness' that is entertainingly fresh. Italian women, Muslims, the French and others are insulted with broad brush-strokes. Nonetheless, it is historically informative, important from a literary standpoint and makes for interesting reading. Despite its age, it is a fluid, fast read. de Camp had a lot of interesting things to say... and said them well.
Rating:
Summary: Classical Roman Science Fiction.
Review: Very well written book that takes the reader back in
time to ancient Rome at the height of the empire.
The characters, settings, plotting and histroical
veracity are all first rate.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent story, well told
Review: Well written and entertaining, Lest Darkness Fall is well worth the cover price. Travelling to a period of time that most time travel novels ignore, the idea of a modern day man in Roman times is a wonderful twist on the "done to death" time traveller genre. I think the only complaint I have about this book is that it is too short. Many of the novel ideas found in the story aren't explored to their potential. After you read this book, check out, The Cross-Time Engineer by Leo Frankowski. This five part series got five star ratings for four of the five books at Amazon.com! (The fourth book got a 4.5!) Frankowski's books take this type of time travel book to its logical conclusion and fully explore many of the wonderful ideas found in this book.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent story, well told
Review: Well written and entertaining, Lest Darkness Fall is well worth the cover price. Travelling to a period of time that most time travel novels ignore, the idea of a modern day man in Roman times is a wonderful twist on the "done to death" time traveller genre. I think the only complaint I have about this book is that it is too short. Many of the novel ideas found in the story aren't explored to their potential. After you read this book, check out, The Cross-Time Engineer by Leo Frankowski. This five part series got five star ratings for four of the five books at Amazon.com! (The fourth book got a 4.5!) Frankowski's books take this type of time travel book to its logical conclusion and fully explore many of the wonderful ideas found in this book.
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